Empress Fu (Ai)
Encyclopedia
Empress Fu (died 1 BC), formally Empress Xiaoai (孝哀皇后), was an empress during Han Dynasty
. Her personal name is unknown. Her husband (perhaps in name only, for he appeared to be far more enamored with his male favorite and probable lover Dong Xian
than he was with her) was Emperor Ai
.
Empress Fu was the daughter of her husband's grandmother Consort Fu
's cousin Fu Yan (傅晏). She became his consort when he was still the Prince of Dingtao and later crown prince. After the death of his uncle Emperor Cheng
in 6 BC, he ascended the throne as Emperor Ai, and she was created his empress that same year. Her father was created the Marquess of Kongxiang.
Very little is known about Empress Fu's life before or after she became an empress. She appeared to have very little influence on her husband or other political figures during her years as an empress.
By the time Emperor Ai died in 1 BC, Empress Fu's main support, Consort Fu, had already been dead for two years, and she suddenly was all alone as her father and her other relatives were purged from government by Grand Empress Dowager Wang's nephew Wang Mang
. Wang, who bore grudges against Consort Fu and Emperor Ai, did not permit her to become empress dowager, and a brief time after Emperor Ai's death, he had her demoted to commoner status and ordered her to guard her husband's tomb—even though she was not personally involved in any of the political intrigue. She committed suicide that day.
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
. Her personal name is unknown. Her husband (perhaps in name only, for he appeared to be far more enamored with his male favorite and probable lover Dong Xian
Dong Xian
Dong Xian was a Han Dynasty politician who quickly rose from obscurity as a minor official to being the most powerful official in the imperial administration of Emperor Ai within a span of a few years....
than he was with her) was Emperor Ai
Emperor Ai of Han
Emperor Ai of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He ascended the throne when he was 20, having been made heir by his uncle Emperor Cheng, who was childless, and he reigned from 7 BC to 1 BC....
.
Empress Fu was the daughter of her husband's grandmother Consort Fu
Consort Fu
Consort Fu was an imperial consort during Han Dynasty. She was a consort and a favorite of Emperor Yuan. She was known to be a domineering woman who wanted her son on the throne, and, failing that, wanted her grandson on the throne as Emperor Ai...
's cousin Fu Yan (傅晏). She became his consort when he was still the Prince of Dingtao and later crown prince. After the death of his uncle Emperor Cheng
Emperor Cheng of Han
Emperor Cheng of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty ruling from 33 BC until 7 BC.Under Emperor Cheng, the Han dynasty continued its slide into disintegration while the Wang clan continued its slow grip on power and on governmental affairs as promoted by the previous emperor...
in 6 BC, he ascended the throne as Emperor Ai, and she was created his empress that same year. Her father was created the Marquess of Kongxiang.
Very little is known about Empress Fu's life before or after she became an empress. She appeared to have very little influence on her husband or other political figures during her years as an empress.
By the time Emperor Ai died in 1 BC, Empress Fu's main support, Consort Fu, had already been dead for two years, and she suddenly was all alone as her father and her other relatives were purged from government by Grand Empress Dowager Wang's nephew Wang Mang
Wang Mang
Wang Mang , courtesy name Jujun , was a Han Dynasty official who seized the throne from the Liu family and founded the Xin Dynasty , ruling AD 9–23. The Han dynasty was restored after his overthrow and his rule marks the separation between the Western Han Dynasty and Eastern Han Dynasty...
. Wang, who bore grudges against Consort Fu and Emperor Ai, did not permit her to become empress dowager, and a brief time after Emperor Ai's death, he had her demoted to commoner status and ordered her to guard her husband's tomb—even though she was not personally involved in any of the political intrigue. She committed suicide that day.